Did you know… Aldar Toilet Tissues held an open day welcoming retailers and stockist to visit its premises last Wednesday? The Finglas-based company produces 1000+ tons of high-quality tissue products per month with a wide variety of paper grades, colours and pack designs, using only pure grade cellulose in their products. Aldar offers a private label service as well as luxury toilet tissue in four and six pack units. It also manufacturers kitchen rolls in two pack units with 14,300 units per container.
Did you know… The annual rate of inflation increased in October? According to the Consumer Prise Index, inflation was up 0.3% on the same month last year. While the highest increases were in education with 5%, close behind were alcoholic drink and tobacco at 4%, and hotels and restaurants at nearly 3%. Meanwhile, there were also declines in inflation on clothing, footwear, food and non-alcoholic drink, furnishings and household equipment as well as transport. The Central Statistics Office said that month-on-month prices decreases by 0.3%.
Did you know… Dunnes Stores has reportedly launched a legal challenge to a €40 million extension planned for The Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght? According to the Irish Independent, Dunnes is opposing the extension, as it has concerns over the impact it will have to its retail operations at the site. High Court Judge Seamus Noonan granted Dunnes leave to bring an action against An Bord Pleanala, seeking to cancel the permission that was granted for the extension back in September. The extension, if completed, will add around 200,000 square feet of retail space to The Square.
Did you know… Trading conditions for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have improved? According to the SME Credit Demand Survey covering April-September 2014, conducted by Red C on behalf of the Department of Finance, 84% of SMEs report a "stable or increased turnover". This is an increase of 10% on the previous six months. Of 1,500 respondents, 49% reported increased turnover in the past six months while only 16% reported a decrease, compared to 26% in March this year. Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said, "The results of this comprehensive survey show that trading conditions continue to improve for Irish SMEs, [with] 30% (up 7%) responding that they have increased staff numbers, with the proportion of profit-making businesses at 56% (up 5%) over the period. As I stated in my Budget 2015 speech, SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy and play a crucial role in economic and employment growth."
Did you know… Carte Noire is continuing its sponsorship of the IFI French Film Festival? The IFI French Film Festival, in its 15th year, will run from November 19 to 30, and it will include, amongst many French filmmakers, Actor Mathieu Amalric, actress Assa Sylla, and directors Pascale Ferran and Cecile Telerman. "Carte Noire is the embodiment of the French love affair with coffee, making it the perfect partner for this festival celebrating French culture through film,” said Sandra Gahan, head of marketing, beverages at Mondelez Ireland. “And anyone attending this year’s festival will also get a chance to sample Carte Noire, helping to enhance their enjoyment of the very best of French film.”
Did you know… White’s Oats in Northern Ireland is investing over £1 million and creating 29 new jobs in a drive to expand sales of its porridge and snack products in Britain, Ireland and further afield? James Mathers, general manager of White's said: "Health and convenience represent two key consumer trends, which White’s is ideally placed to service. The benefits of regularly eating porridge oats have been well recognised by consumers and health professionals. Our focus is on producing healthy, convenient and natural products and making them available to time pressed consumers. The opportunities looking forward are very exciting." As Northern Ireland’s only oat miller, White’s also supplies products to other manufacturers of breakfast cereals and has grown sales in export markets including the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, the US, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China.
Did you know… The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is hosting a free breakfast meeting to inform on how to declare allergen information on non-prepacked (loose) foods? Taking place at the FSAI office on Abbey Court, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1 on December 3 at 8.20am, the seminar aims to explain the requirements of declaring allergens on packaging according to new EU law. The new requirement will be extended from December 13, 2014 to cover all food, i.e. non-prepacked or loose food. This means that food businesses such as restaurants, takeaways, pubs, caterers, hotels etc that did not have to declare allergen use up to now, will have to do so. It also covers 'distance selling' whereby food is purchased on the internet or over the phone and delivered to the consumer. Dr Pat O’Mahony of the FSAI will explain the new Regulations and outline how the food industry can comply with meeting the new requirements. To register for this event, visit www.fsai.ie
Did you know… Cronin’s Centra Ballylickey, Cork has helped fund €8,000 worth of energy upgrades to St Colum's GAA? The funding went towards installing a new boiler and internal lighting and will improve energy efficiency at the club. The help from Centra is part of a nationwide campaign from Musgrave and the SEAI, which has resulted in 34 Centra and SuperValu stores investing €1.8 million in the their own energy consumption and will pass on their savings of approximately €800,000 to local community projects this year. Declan Meally from the SEAI said, "Energy retrofitting is really important for Ireland reducing expensive imports of fossil fuel and providing much needed employment. The Musgrave and GAA collaboration is a fantastic example of community projects which involve people and organisations working together, having a real effect on people’s lives, with the benefits staying locally."
Did you know… A former Tesco Sligo employee has been awarded €12,000 after he was disciplined for not turning up for work? Tomasz Jankowski complained to the Equality Tribunal when he received a final written warning for not attending work, although he claimed to have felt discriminated against because of his nationality, Polish. Jankowski claimed that he was refused time off on numerous occasions, including the birth of his child and was treated unfairly by his employers. The Equality Tribunal ruled in Jankowski’s favour and awarded him €12,000 for the discrimination he endured.
Did you know… The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has warned that Marlow Foods Ltd has recalled one batch code of Quorn Cottage Pie, with a use by date of November 29, 2014, as it was incorrectly packed with Quorn Lasagne? Quorn Lasagne contains wheat (gluten) and celery. This makes the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or have an intolerance of wheat (gluten) and celery. The concerned batch is: Quorn Cottage Pie, 500g. Also withdrawn from sale last week was a batch of Marks& Spencer's Kebabs, which were incorrectly labelled as being gluten free. This may make the products unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or have an intolerance of wheat (gluten). The affected batch is: Marks & Spencer Deli 4 Mini Chicken & Chorizo Kebabs (unique product code: 00975667); and Marks & Spencer Deli 4 Mini Chicken Kebabs with Pomegranate, Garlic & Cumin (unique product code: 00975704); pack size: 120g; all use by dates; all batch codes. No other Marks & Spencer products are affected.
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Genna Patterson
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